Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-06-16
Enterprise.

just now, WDen "DOOmS" are all the
rage, why do we not inaugurate one in
Southeast Missouri? Simply because
we lack the spirit of enterprise. We
are produced against new IDEAS; there
is too much obstinate clinging to the
old methods and practices. The aver
age Southeast MIssourian is too eau
tious to invest money in enterprises
and does not keep up with the times
but carries out the sentimental notion
that he must move in the same old
groove that his father moved in. To
delight in doing things because our
fathers did them is good if it shuts out
nothing better; it enlarges the range of
affection. but this may be ridden down
to an absurdity-it may amount to
servile imitation. Granting that neith-
er age nor novelty is an argument for
or against All enterprise, [ think that
work should smack of the times and
carry a stamp Of the period.
Nothing ia more fatal to live adj
vancem.nt titan stupid conservatism.
You may stick TO your rut in politics
and religion, but in business you must
switch into new tracks, and shape
yourself to every exigency. The days
when a man could get rich by plodding
on, without enterprise or exertion, have
gone by. In these days of fierce COM
petition, mere industry and economy
are not enough hence we see the quick
witted Liliputian getting ahead of the
slow-witted Brobdingnagian. You
must keep, at least, abreast of the
times, for if you ignore all new meth
DDS you will find your occupation gone,
like Othello's. Carlyle truly says that
"the race of life has become intense,
the runners are treading Upon each
others heels; woe be to him, who stops
to tie his shoe-strings." But what is
one to do? Shoe-strings will come un-
tied. All, there's the point. You must
wear buttoned-shoes with the buttons
secured by "patent fasteners"
Many men have been praised as hav-
ing unusual qualifications when they
really owe their success to their plastic
powers. AS the aspect of things
changes they quicken their pace and
enlarge their schemes-in a word, they
are enterprising. These are the men
needed to iDaugurate a boom in South
east Missouri. We have many heroes
who might, could, would or should be
energetic; the great trouble is, that like
the school-boy reciting his piece, each
must have some one to "start it for
him." Do not wait on anybody else.
Go first, and without making a single
obeisanee to "Irs. Grandy," dare to
act independently energetic, and then
observe the force OF example.
1t is said that a lobster, when left
high and dry on the strand, has not in
stinct and energy enough to work his
way back to the sea, but waits for the
sea to come to him, and if it does not
come, he remains on the rocks and dies,
although the slightest effort would
have enabled him to reach the waves,
which are tossing within a yard of
him. Permit me to mention-as soto
voce as type can express it-there are
a great many human Holsters in South
east Missouri, men stranded on the
rocks of business, who, instead of put
ting forth their own energies, are lying
on their backs waiting some Hercules
to give them "a lift" You must not
wait; start, pull, get up some way, and
hold your ground, remembering that
the world deems success the only test
of merit.
Should new enterprise be introduce
ed in your town, examine it, consider
its adaptability to the needs of the
place and if you are convinced it is a
good thing. assist in it's establishment
If you possess capital yourself, you
should regard it as a solemn mandate
to go forward and labor in your sphere
of usefulness for the prosperity of your
town.
Encourage the building of railroads
for they are the greatest need of South
east Missouri. If capitalist go to
many Southeast Missouri town with
a view to investing money in an enter
prise there, he is dIsgusted with the
place before he ever gees it because of
the difficulty in reaching it. He can
travel by rail, perhaps, only within
ten or fifteen miles of the place, aud
must then be be jostled over bad roads
in rickety hack the rest of the way,
aud yet he will meet many an old
farmer who would rather rave you
plant an Upas tree on his farm than
build railroad near it.
We have advantages far outweigh
ing those of many of the booming dis
tricts but many of our streams turn no
the sun shines on much un- |
cultivated ground and copious showers
yxter only weeds and brambles. We
iced eli ergy, enterprise and capital to
urn all This to better account. I'M
is the watchward of the day
nd we must inform the old jog-trat
elbows, who insist upon travelling with